NOAA, Ocean Explorer: 2013-2001 Signature and Summary ExplorationsFollow the 2013 Explorers trough their web offerings as they mount expeditions into the rarely explored ocean realms around the world. You can also retrace the previous eleven field seasons.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/explorations.html
NOAA, Ocean Explorer: 2013-2001 Signature and Summary Explorationshttp://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_100.jpghttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/explorations.html
Deepwater Canyons 2013: Pathways to the Abyss(April - May) The Deepwater Canyons 2013: Pathways to the Abyss expedition will depart from Charleston, South Carolina, on 30 April on the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown and will return to Charleston on 27 May. The cruise will be divided into two legs. Work in Leg I will emphasize biological objectives in Norfolk Canyon, with some sampling in Baltimore Canyon. Leg II will focus on archaeological targets in and around the Norfolk Canyon area, with some emphasis on biological objectives.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/13midatlantic/welcome.html
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May 5 Log: Carrying On in Rough Seas
Surface wind and subsequently ocean waves have intensified, making it unsafe to launch or recover Jason. In lieu of daily ROV dives, the science team has busied itself with an array of observation and sampling methods originally scheduled during the night.
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/13midatlantic/logs/may5/may5.html
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May 4 Log: Host or Habitat?
Like humans, corals have bacteria that live in them and on them. These bacteria are a natural part of the coral’s biology (just like the bacteria in our guts) and are necessary for the health of the coral. However, we are still in the early stages of understanding which bacteria are present and what they are doing for the corals.
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/13midatlantic/logs/may4/may4.html
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May 2 Log: Overview of Norfolk Canyon
In 2012, the Deepwater Canyons project focused primarily on surveying and sampling Baltimore Canyon, with a smaller amount of work done in Norfolk Canyon. The reverse is true of this year’s exploration: remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive and sampling targets in Norfolk Canyon will comprise the majority of our days at sea.
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/13midatlantic/logs/may2/may2.html
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April 30 Log: High Operational Tempo
From the moment the NOAA Ship Ron Brown left the pier in Charleston, South Carolina, this morning, life has been moving at a very rapid pace.
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/13midatlantic/logs/apr30/apr30.html
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Submarine Ring of Fire 2012: NE Lau Basin(September) Join scientists in the latest in a series of expeditions to explore the submarine volcanoes of the Western Pacific. See the highlights, including daily logs, images and live video.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12fire/welcome.html
Russian-U.S. Arctic Census 2012(August/September) This is the ninth year that Russian-American Long-term Census of the Arctic scientists will be conducting long-term research to better understand the causes and consequences of environmental change in the fragile Arctic environment.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12arctic/welcome.html
Deepwater Canyons 2012: Pathways to the Abyss(August-October) Join scientists as they explore Mid-Atlantic deepwater, hard bottom canyons off the coasts of Viginia and Maryland.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12midatlantic/welcome.html
Exploring the Submerged New World 2012(July) Join scientists as they return to two dive sites they visited in 2009, hoping to excavate late Pleistocene terrestrial sediments from beneath the modern seafloor.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12newworld/welcome.html
E/V Nautilus: Turkey and Cyprus Expedition 2012(July/August) During July and August of 2012, Exploration Vessel Nautilus will explore the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea off the coasts of Turkey and Cyprus.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12nautilus/welcome.html
Lophelia II 2012: Deepwater Platform Corals(July) Scientists aboard the Research Vessel Brooks McCall set off on their fifth and final expedition to investigate the deep-water coral communities of the Gulf of Mexico.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12lophelia/welcome.html
INSPIRE: Chile Margin 2012(April) During a 10-day cruise on the R/V Melville, scientists probe for strange new biological life forms, communities, and ecosystems dependent on as-yet-unknown conditions.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12chile/welcome.html
New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration 2011(July-November) A multi-institute initiative is conducting ocean exploration projects in the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas, and the eastern Atlantic Ocean over a five-month period.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/11nautilus/welcome.html
Exploring the Hidden World of the Maritime Maya 2011(September) Join us as an interdisciplinary expedition explores the forgotten world of the Maya in the Yucatan along the tip of Quintana Roo. See how the Maya maritime trade network was able to thrive in a challenging coastal environment that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/11maya/welcome.html
Exploring the Submerged New World 2011(August) Join scientists as they return to the four dive sites they visited in 2009, to study the biology, geology and oceanography of a series of canyons off the middle Atlantic coast of the U.S.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/11newworld/welcome.html
Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011: Dives of Discovery(June) Some of the world’s foremost technical and scientific divers are using state of the art diving equipment to explorer Bermuda's deep water caves. Join them as they examine the unique characteristics of Bermuda's shelf edge in order to learn more about climate and sea level fluctuations since the last Ice Age.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/11bermuda/welcome.html
Deep-Water Mid-Atlantic Canyons Exploration 2011(June) This project represents a major systematic exploration of submarine canyons on the continental margin of the eastern United States. Scientists will use data and information to improve knowledge of the type and extent of unique deep-water communities in the mid-Atlantic canyons.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/11midatlantic/welcome.html
Pacific Deep Reefs 2011(February-March) In this deep-diving expedition to the Southern Pacific, scientists characterized deep reef communities and began the task of assessing organisms for their biotechnology potential.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/11pacificreefs/welcome.html
Lophelia II 2010: Oil Seeps and Deep Reefs(October) Scientists aboard the NOAA ship Ronald H. Brown set off on their fourth expedition to investigate the deep-water coral communities of the Gulf of Mexico.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10lophelia/welcome.html
Cradle of the Earthquake: Exploring the Underwater San Andreas Fault 2010(September-October) Using a multidisciplinary approach including mapping, core sampling and "green" vessel technology, scientists explore this famous - if still relatively unknown - underwater fault off Northern California's coast.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/welcome.html
Extended Continental Shelf Project 2010(August-September) The 2010 Extended Continental Shelf survey is a 5-week-long arctic mapping expedition involving two icebreakers: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10ecs/welcome.html
Thunder Bay Exploration 2010(August) Thunder Bay 2010 will bring cutting-edge shipwreck finding technology to Lake Huron's "shipwreck alley"- the stretch of Lake Huron just off the northeastern Michigan coast that has claimed hundreds of ships.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10thunderbay/welcome.html
Florida Shelf Edge Exploration 2010(July-August) A science team on the research vessel Seward Johnson left from Fort Pierce, Fla. in early July to go to the eastern Gulf of Mexico.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10flosee/welcome.html
Sea of Cortez Expedition 2010(April - May) This unique expedition took place in Ballena Bay just off the Isla Espíritu Santo. Discover why scientists hope their findings will give them a better understanding of human migration into the New World.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10cortez/welcome.html
INSPIRE: Chile Margin 2010(February) A diverse team of scientists will be tackling questions about strange new biological life forms, communities, and ecosystems far from the sunlit surface at the Chilean Triple Junction.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10chile/welcome.html
Northeast Lau Response Cruise (NELRC) 2009(September) Travel with scientists as they visit the sites of two recent underwater volcano eruptions in the NE Lau Basin, and discover new insights on eruptive phenomena in this environment.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09laubasin/welcome.html
Bermuda: Search for Deep Water Caves 2009(September) Join scientists as they set out on a series of expeditions in the seas surrounding Bermuda, searching for deep water caves.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09bermuda/welcome.html
Russian-U.S. Arctic Census 2009(August) During the 2009 Russian-American Long-Term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA) expedition, scientists will again visit the Bering Strait and northwards to the Pacific side of the Arctic Ocean, as they did in 2004.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09arctic/welcome.html
Lophelia II 2009: Deepwater Coral Expedition: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks(August) Return with scientists to the Gulf of Mexico as they collect data related to cold water corals: their habitats, their levels of genetic connectivity, and the distribution of their communities.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09lophelia/welcome.html
Extended Continental Shelf Project 2009(August) NOAA will join a multi-agency joint expedition that will bring together icebreakers from the U.S. and Canada to collect and share data useful to both countries in defining the full extent of the Arctic continental shelf.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09ecs/welcome.html
Exploring the Submerged New World 2009(July) Join our scientists as they explore the North American Florida Middle Grounds for traces of early human occupation on a submerged late Pleistocene landscape.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09newworld/welcome.html
Bioluminescence 2009: Living Light on the Deep Sea Floor(July) Join our scientists as they explore the fascinating phenomenon of bioluminescence, rarely found on land, yet common in species throughout the world ocean.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09bioluminescence/welcome.html
The Northeastern Gulf of Mexico 2008(July) A team of Maritime archaeologists return to the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico to study the inundated late pleistocene landscapes and how these features may give clues to Florida's first Snowbirds.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08negmexico/welcome.html
Bahamas Deep-Sea Corals 2009(March) Corals in the deep sea? When asked to describe corals, most people think of those that make up tropical, shallow-water reefs like the Great Barrier Reef. See what scientist discovered in the North Atlantic waters deeper than 1000 meters.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09deepseacorals/welcome.html
Return To Trouvadore 2008(October) A team of Maritime archaeologists return to the wreck sites of the slave ship Trouvadore, first identified during a 2006 expedition off the coast of East Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08trouvadore/welcome.html
Lophelia II 2008: Deepwater Coral Expedition: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks(September) Scientists will use a combination of remote sensing, quantitative community collections, and genetic analyses to further our understanding of cold water corals and the communities associated with them.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08lophelia/welcome.html
Thunder Bay Sinkholes 2008(September) Follow scientists as they explore shallow and deep coastal sinkholes in Lake Huron to understand the unique ecology found in these systems.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08thunderbay/welcome.html
AUV Fest 2008: Navy Mine-Hunting Robots help NOAA Explore Sunken History(May) Learn how autonomous underwater vehicles are being used to discover and study shipwrecks off Newport, Rhode Island.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08auvfest/welcome.html
Bonaire 2008: Exploring Coral Reef Sustainability with New Technologies(January) This expedition will use AUVs to survey the most pristine coral reef environment in the Caribbean.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08bonaire/welcome.html
Exploring the Inner Space of the Celebes Sea 2007(September - October) Our expedition takes us to unexplored waters south of the Philippine Islands, in search of the strange,
and possibly unknown, fishes, jellyfish, squids and shrimp that live in the dark deep waters of the Celebes Sea.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07philippines/welcome.html
Submarine Ring of Fire 2007(July - August) Scientists return to the Kermadec Arc, to explore in great detail the Brothers submarine volcano. This will mark the most comprehensive exploration of this type of arc volcano and is one of the most vigorous geothermaly active yet discovered.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07fire/welcome.html
Okeanos Explorer: A New Paradigm for Exploration(August) Telepresence technology is used to provide scientists and the public video, images and data in real time.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07blacksea/welcome.html
Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007(June) This year's mission revisits previous discoveries and explores new areas in the Gulf of Mexico.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07mexico/welcome.html
Cayman Islands Twilight Zone 2007(May) Follow highly trained technical divers as they mount an expedition into the rarely explored Cayman Islands Twilight Zone.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07philippines/welcome.html
Cumberland Club 2007(June) The Hampton Roads Naval Museum and NOAA held a summer enrichment program, giving
students the opportunity to experience being a historian, archeologist and marine-scientist.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/07cumberland/welcome.html
Operation Laser Line 2006(November) Follow explorers as they use new laser technology to examine coral reefs, fishing sites and a WWII aircraft wreck off the coast of Maui.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06laserline/welcome.html
Project PHAEDRA 2006(June - July) An international team of engineers, geologists, geochemists, and historians
explored deep sites within Greek national waters.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06greece/welcome.html
Olympic Coast 2006(May - June) In the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, a research team documented deep-sea coral and sponge communities.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06olympic/welcome.html
Expedition to the Deep Slope 2006(May - June) Scientists conducted the first systematic exploration
of hydrocarbon seep communities in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06mexico/welcome.html
Submarine Ring of Fire 2006(April - May) Scientists return to explore active submarine
volcanoes lying along the Mariana Arc, extending for more than 800 nautical miles.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06fire/welcome.html
Davidson Seamount: Exploring Ancient Coral Gardens(January - February) This mission explored the cold waters of the Davidson Seamount, 4,100 to 12,000 feet deep (1250 to 3660 meters), off the Central California coastline.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06davidson/welcome.html
Sounds of the Southern Ocean 2006(November - December) A team travels to the Antarctic to study the dynamic tectonic and volcanic environment of the Bransfield Strait and Drake Passage.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06sounds/welcome.html
NEW ZEEPS 06(November) Discover the unusual forms of life that exist in the cold, deep waters off New Zealand.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06newzealand/welcome.html
Tracking Narwhals in Greenland(August - March) Scientists attach sensors to deep-diving narwhals to uncover their secrets and better understand Arctic waters.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06arctic/welcome.html
South Atlantic Bight 2006(August) Advanced sonar is used to rapidly map the continental shelf off South Carolina. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06southatlantic/welcome.html
The Search for Trouvadore(July) A team of explorers uncovers the history of the 19th century slave trade as they search for the wreck of the Trouvadore. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06trouvadore/welcome.html
Aegean and Black Sea 2006(April - June) Explore this ancient crossroads of maritime activity with Dr. Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06blacksea/welcome.html
Alaska's Submerged Heritage 2006(April - April) Nearly half of the United States ocean coastline falls within the boundaries of the state of Alaska. The state's
continental shelf is the final resting place for more than 4,000 known shipwrecks. See how scientists discovered some of Alaska's submerged heritage.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06alaska/welcome.html
GalAPAGoS: Where Ridge Meets Hotspot(December - January) This expedition surveyed the ocean floor north of the Galapagos Islands for underwater volcanoes and oceanic hotspots.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05galapagos/welcome.html
Florida Coast Deep Corals 2005(November) Unlike shallow water tropical reefs, deep-water reefs are not well known. The data gathered during the Florida Coast Deep Corals 2005
expedition provided a strong foundation of information on the deep-water coral ecosystems off the Florida coast.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05deepcorals/welcome.html
Life on the Edge 2005(October - November) Scientists returned to the waters off the East Coast of the United States to explore continental slope coral ecosystems. There is increasing evidence
that deep water corals are important fish habitat, hold data on ocean climate and productivity, and are hotspots of biodiversity including new species.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05coralbanks/welcome.html
Operation Deep Scope 2005(August - September) Scientists returned to explore the benthic creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico,
hoping to continue an astonishing array of discoveries, including that of a fluorescent shark, fluorescent
methane hydrates, and a new species of large deep-sea squid.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05deepscope/welcome.html
North Atlantic Stepping Stones 2005(August - September) Scientists studied the very old New England and Corner Stone seamount chains to help them understand the distribution of deep-sea biodiversity.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05stepstones/welcome.html
The Lost City 2005(July - August) This exploration introduced a new methodology for marine fieldwork. Scientists used satellites to view and analyze data without being on a ship at sea.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05lostcity/welcome.html
The Hidden Ocean, Arctic 2005(June - July) Scientists participated in a collaborative effort to explore the frigid depths of the Canada Basin, located in one of the deepest parts of the Arctic Ocean.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05arctic/welcome.html
New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire 2005(April - May) Join scientist as they explore the active submarine volcanoes along the Kermadec Arc, located
north of New Zealand, with a pair of manned submersibles the PISCES IV and V.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05fire/welcome.html
Sounds of the Southern Ocean(December) Scientists deployed an array of Autonomous Underwater Hydrophones (AUH). When the AUH array is recovered in 2006, sounds that have been captured will enable
identification of previously unknown volcanically active regions on the seafloor, as well as the location of critical habitat for baleen whales.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05sounds/welcome.html
Aquarius Habitat(July) This year's project was an intensive week of ocean science and discovery for a nationally selected group of six Girl Scouts.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05aquarius/welcome.html
Galápagos Rift 2005(May - June) Scientists returned to a discovery found just over a quarter-century ago, on the
bottom of the eastern Pacific Ocean that forever changed our understanding of our planet, and life on it.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05galapagosrift/welcome.html
Vailulu'u 2005(March - July) Join scientists as they explore the Vailulu'u underwater volcano that lies approximately 20 miles east of Ta'u Island in American Samoa.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05vailuluu/welcome.html
Estuary to the Abyss 2004(August) Scientists worked along a "Latitude
31-30 Transect" line that extends from the coast to
the deep sea. The expedition concentrated on deeper waters
(greater than 400 m) of the Transect, to complement previous
studies of shallow-water faunas.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04etta/welcome.html
Operation Deep Scope 2004(August) The science team used advanced camera
systems and light-tight traps to explore the benthic creatures
of the Northern Gulf of Mexico - one of the most geologically
complex regions on the planet.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04deepscope/welcome.html
Gulf of Alaska 2004(August) The expedition party dove to 3,500 meters to conduct biological and geological investigations on 5 submerged volcanoes over a 400 nautical mile section of the Northeast Pacific.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04alaska/welcome.html
Mountains in the Sea 2004(May) Scientists returned to document and try to understand the octocoral communities of the New England Seamounts.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04mountains/welcome.html
Submarine Ring of Fire 2004(March - April) An interdisciplinary team of scientists returned to the submarine volcanoes of the Mariana Arc to explore, utilizing an underwater tethered robot (ROPOS).http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04fire/welcome.html
Hunt for the USS Alligator(Summer) This schooner served a brief but remarkable naval career. Read about its unique history and distinction as the earliest naval shipwreck in Florida waters.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/04alligator/welcome.html
Aquarius Habitat 2004Two opportunities exist to visit the world's only undersea laboratory. Read about an essay contest and a Girl Scout project.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/04aquarius/welcome.html
Deep Water Macroalgal Meadows 2004September-December) Discover why the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are rich with a high diversity of tropical algae (seaweed, or limu) and other marine life.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04algae/welcome.html
Search for the USS 0-9September) Read about a marine archaeology expedition trying to shed some light on what happened to this ill-fated American submarine. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/04uss09/welcome.html
Deep Sea Precious CoralsOctober) Scientists will examine
the coral-associated invertebrate fauna at three large precious
coral beds in the Hawaiian Archipelago, the Makapu'u Bed,
on the southeast slope of Oahu, the Keahole Bed, on the western
slope of Hawaii, and the Cross Seamount Bed.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04coral/welcome.html
The Ocracoke Shipwreck Survey 2004(August-October)
The Ocracoke Shipwreck Survey seeks to discover the remains
of America's lost maritime heritage through exploration and
discovery of submerged cultural resources, primarily focusing
on shipwrecks.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04ocracoke/welcome.html
WW II Shipwreck Survey(July-August) Scientists ventured
into the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico to learn the long-term
effect of manmade structures on the deep sea, and conversely,
the effect of the environment on those structures.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04gmss/welcome.html
Russian-U.S. Arctic Census 2004(July-August) A team of U.S. and Russian
scientists embarked on an exploration of the Bering and Chukchi
Seas, an area thought be particularly sensitive to global
climate change.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04arctic/welcome.html
Kad'yak 2004(July) Investigate the wreck of the Kad'yak, a Russian-American Company
bark-rigged sailing vessel. In the final years before the United
States purchased Alaska in 1867, the ship carried trade goods
between Russian settlements and the Hawaiian Islands.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04kadyak/welcome.html
Life on the Edge 2004(June)
A collaborative team of scientists, continued and expanded
their work in these deep water habitats.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04edge/welcome.html
Titanic 2004(May-June)
Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the
R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned
to help study the ship's rapid deterioration.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/welcome.html
Sunken Warbirds(May) Aircraft wrecks lost in Lake Michigan have long held Navy interest.
Read about this first survey opportunity.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/04warbirds/welcome.html
Submarine Ring of Fire 2003(February - March) An interdisciplinary
team of scientists explored the submarine volcanoes of the
Mariana Arc lying north of Guam in the western Pacific.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03fire/welcome.html
Mountains in the Sea(July) Explorers visited several little known
seamounts in the North Atlantic to study various aspects
of deep-sea octocorals and other organisms living on and
around these submerged mountains.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03mountains/welcome.html
Windows to the Deep(July-August) Scientists used the Alvin submersible
and other tools to explore the biology, physics, and chemistry
of seafloor methane seeps at water depths of 2,000m to 2,800m
off the coast of the southeastern U.S.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03windows/welcome.html
Charleston Bump(August) Scientists investigated how fishes and
invertebrates adapt to a variety of bottom habitats and strong,
shifting currents along the rocky, erosion resistant Charleston
Bump.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03bump/welcome.html
Life on the Edge 2003(August) A team examined unexplored deep
reef habitats off the Carolinas and defined their faunal
composition.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03edge/welcome.html
Deep Sea Medicines(September) A team studied marine organisms
found in deep water habitats in the Gulf of Mexico as potential
sources of new drugs.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03bio/welcome.html
Steamship Portland(September) The ship and all aboard were lost in 1898 during a massive
storm off New England. A team dove on the wreck to unravel
the mystery behind the sinking.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03portland/welcome.html
Gulf of Mexico Habitats(September - October) An interdisciplinary
scientific team spent 12 days exploring deep sea coral habitats
in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03mex/welcome.html
Puerto Rico Trench(February - March) A science team attempted
to develop the first coherent high-resolution bathymetric
map of the Puerto Rico Trench.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03trench/welcome.html
Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Biology(February) A student team
studied the reproductive biology and biochemistry of cold-seep
mussels and various other seasonally reproducing deep-sea
animals.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03mexbio/welcome.html
Kick'em Jenny Volcano(March) A science team evaluated the most
active underwater volcano in the West Indies.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03kickem/welcome.html
Titanic 2003(June) A team conducted four Mir dives to the Titanic in order to assess
the wreck site and conduct scientific observations to support
ongoing research.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03titanic/welcome.html
Black Sea 2003(July-August) A science team explored the preserved shipwrecks of the Black Sea.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03blacksea/welcome.html
Quest for the Gaspee(August-October) The British warship Gaspee's burning by disgruntled colonists in 1773 ranks alongside the Boston
Tea Party as a galvanizing step on the road to the American Revolution. A team looked for the sunken vessel this summer.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03gaspee/welcome.html
Arctic 2003(September) A team mapped parts of the world's least explored ocean. The expedition will cover the Chukchi and Northwind Ridge.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03arctic/welcome.html
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) 2003(September - November) A multidisciplinary team explored the pristine reefs and seamounts of the NWHI,
a remote chain of small islands and atolls stretching 1,200 nautical miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03nwhi/welcome.html
U-166(October) In July 1942, the German U-boat 166 was attacked and sank by the U.S. Navy. The science team
that discovered the wreck in 2001 returned to study the submarine.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03u166/welcome.html
Aquarius Habitat 2003Two opportunities exist to visit the world's only undersea laboratory. Read about an essay contest and a Girl Scout project.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/03aquarius/welcome.html
Sanctuary Quest(April - September) focused on research, exploration, and monitoring within and adjacent to a system of national marine sanctuaries along the Pacific coast.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02quest/sanctuaryquest.html
Davidson Seamount(May) A team explored the California seamount with remotely operated vehicles.
Extensive video surveying and biological sampling shed light on this little known undersea island.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02davidson/davidson.html
Galapagos Rift 2002(May - June) is home to deep-sea hydrothermal vents and their spectacular animal communities. Scientists returned to the site where they were discovered 25 years ago.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02galapagos/galapagos.html
Exploring Alaska's Seamounts(June - July) was a mission to study several unexplored seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska to understand how they formed and determine their volcanic history.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02alaska/welcome.html
Submarine Ring of Fire 2002(June - August) An interdisciplinary exploration team used new technology to investigate the birth of new
ocean crust off the coast of western North America, part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire."http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02fire/welcome.html
Monitor Expedition 2002(June - October) was the final phase of a multi-year
effort to recover this famous Civil War ironclad. In the
most difficult challenge of the recovery mission, the team
raised the revolving gun turret and two 11-inch Dahlgren cannonshttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02monitor/monitor.html
Islands in the Stream 2002(July - August) was a mission to characterize
deep reef habitats along the continental shelf break and
slope from the eastern coast of Florida to North Carolina
- an area known as the 'South Atlantic Bight'.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02sab/welcome.html
Gulf of Mexico 2002(June - October) An exploration team explored and studied the communities
of animals found around deep-sea oil seeps to improve our understanding
of the lush habitats that thrive in the absence of sunlight.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02mexico/welcome.html
Arctic Exploration 2002(August - September) An international team
explored the frigid depths of the remote Canada Basin, located
in the Arctic Ocean. Due to the region's heavy year-round
ice cover, this expedition was the first one of its kind.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02arctic/welcome.html
Hudson Canyon(August - September) An exploration team mapped a significant portion of the slope and rise to the east and
west of the Hudson Canyon, off New York and New Jersey.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02hudson/welcome.html
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 2002(September - November) A team of scientists traveled to the NW Hawaiian
Islands, a very remote chain of small islands and atolls, to
view unexplored seamounts and map pristine coral reefs.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02hawaii/welcome.html
Tribal Journeys(August)
was an event among many in a cultural resurgence among Northwest
Coast Native Americans and First Nations. Staff from NOAA's
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary played a small role
in helping, and documented the journey as a gift to the Tribes
and Nations.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/02tribal/welcome.html
Census of Marine Life(CoML) is an international research effort that strives to assess and explain the diversity, distribution
and abundance of marine organisms throughout the world's oceans. Read about some of these efforts.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/02census/welcome.html
Continuing the Lewis & Clark Legacy(August) Based on the exciting
results of last year's mission to Heceta Bank, an exploration
team used modern tools to study the submerged ancient shorelines
of the northwest coast.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/02lewis/welcome.html
The Sustainable Seas Expeditions(July - August) was a five-year project of
underwater exploration and discovery of the marine world
with special emphasis on the National Marine Sanctuaries
of the United States.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/02sse/welcome.html
Aquarius Habitat 2002Aquarius is located 20 meters beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean,
next to deep coral reefs in the Florida Keys. It is the world's
only undersea laboratory. Read about an essay contest and a
Girl Scout project.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/02aquarius/aquarius.html
Sound in the Sea - SIRENA(May-June) Scientists sailed on the French research vessel Le Suroit to deploy six continuously
recording hydrophones around the Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/02sirena/welcome.html
The Link Project: A Partnership between NOAA and NASA(Spring) fosters collaboration between ocean and space scientists and engineers, and promotes the benefits to
humankind of ocean and space exploration, research and related technology development.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/link02/link02.html
Preserving the USS Monitor Expedition 2001(April - October) focused on the midsummer recovery of the Monitor's engine, a key step toward recovering of the ship's central turret.
This is part of a multiyear project designed to preserve this historic Civil War vessel for future generations.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/monitor01/monitor01.html
Islands in the Stream 2001(May - August) explored coral reef and hard-bottom communities throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
A special focus was the effects of currents on the life cycles and migration patterns of various species.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/islands01/islands01.html
Continuing the Lewis and Clark Legacy(June - July) A team mapped the Columbia River's offshore canyon and characterized its physical and biological systems.
Astoria Canyon, the westernmost portion of the river's drainage system, is a virtually unexplored biological haven.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/lewis_clark01/lewis_clark01.html
Sound in the Sea: Acoustic Monitoring at Pioneer Seamount(August) A team improved our understanding of the sources of ocean noise by installing a vertical hydrophone array off the coast of central California.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/sound01/sound01.html
Deep East: Deep Sea Resources off the U.S. Eastern Seaboard(September) A team characterized deep-sea ecosystems from New England to Georgia with a manned
submersible. The three target areas included Georges Bank Canyons, Hudson Canyon and Blake Ridge.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/deepeast01/deepeast01.html
Laser Line Scan (LLS) 2001(November 2001) is an electro-optic imaging technique designed to provide the efficiency and spatial coverage of a remote survey
system, at an image resolution approaching that of visual observations. It was field tested off the California coast.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/laser01/laserlinescan.html
The Search for the USS S-5(July 2001) The exact location of the lost Navy submarine is discovered.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/01s5/welcome.html
Next Generation Tools: Multibeam Side-scan Sonar(June-July 2001) used an experimental system, one of only three in the world, to characterize very small-scale environments in Alaska.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/alaskatools01/alaskatools01.html
Thunder Bay ECHO: Acoustic Surveying of Shipwreck Alley(June 2001) used a new side-scan sonar system to identify shipwrecks in this historic area that recently became the 13th U.S.
National Marine Sanctuary. More than 100 vessels are believed to rest here, but only 40 had been located prior to this mission.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/projects/thunderbay01/thunderbay01.html